The Ruling On Visiting ‘Holy’ Sites And Places Where Relics Of The Prophet Are Found

An-Nawawee said:

If one vows to go to a masjid other than the three masjids which are (a) Al-Masjid Al-Haram, (b) Madeenah and (c) Al-Aqsaa, then this vow is neither obligatory nor to be convened.” (1)

Ibn ‘Abdul Baaqee stated in his explanation of Al-Muwatta’:

“(Imaam) Maalik also ‘considered haraam’ seeking pleasure by visiting the location of the tree where the allegiance was pledged to the Prophet (saw), in order to differ from the Jews and Christians.” (2)

Al-Qurtubee said:

“Our scholars have said that it is prohibited for the Muslims to take the graves of the Prophets and of the ‘Ulamaa as masjids.” (3)

Al-Tartooshee said:

“Muhammad Ibn Wadaah narrated that ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (ra) instructed that the tree under which the Prophet (saw) was pledged allegiance to, be chopped down as the people would go to it and ‘Umar feared that it would cause fitnah to the people.

Maalik and other ‘Ulamaa from Madeenah disliked going to those masjids and relics which were in Madeenah, even if it was one dome.” (4)

Al-Tartooshee also said:

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said that: those before you were destroyed because they used to worship the relics of their Prophets and take them as churches and monasteries. Whoever has to pray and passes by one of these places should pray in them, but whoever does not have to pray, should not pray within them.” (5)

Imaam Waleeullaah Ad-Dehlawee Al-Hanafee mentioned a number of categories of shirk, among them he mentioned:

“Shirk in pilgrimage for other than Allaah.(6)” (7)

Footnotes:

(1) Al-Majmoo’, 8/471

(2) Tayseer Al-‘Azeez Al-Hameed, p.340

(3) Tafseer Al-Qurtubee, 10/380

(4) Kitaab Al-Hawaadith Wal Bida, Pp.294-295

(5) Kitaab Al-Hawaadith Wal Bida, Pp.308-309

(6) This is based on when Allaah says, “And [due] to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way.” [3:97]

(7) Hajjatullaahi Baalighah, 1/183

The Prophet (saw) said: "Convey (knowledge) from me even if it is just one aayah..." [Bukhari, 3461]... Share this: